Windows Live Messenger 9 Beta New Features

These are the new features in WLM 9 (currently in pre-beta stage) that are posted around the web.

New features:

1. Sign-in and messaging in multiple locations up to four at once.
2. Signature sounds. 
3. Per contact sounds.
4. SPAM Reporting.
5. Animated Display Pictures - supports animated .gif files as display pictures.
6. Link in Personal Status Message
7. URLs in Personal Status Messages are hot and clickable in the Messenger contact list.

General improvements:

1. Behind the Scenes Changes 
2. Architectural changes that modified how things work but shouldn’t have changed how things look. 
3. Changes to sign-in, connectivity, presence, sending text IM’s, voice & video features.
4. Windows Live Contacts Server
5. wlcomm.exe runs in the background to keep your contacts’ information up-to-date and helps Messenger sign you in faster.